The Church Shines God’s Light to the Nations

 “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭60‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, ““Rise up in splendor and be radiant, for your light has dawned, and YAHWEH’s glory now streams from you!”  Isaiah is calling upon the light of the new day to break forth.  All that Christ has done through the finished work of the Cross in believers, is designed to make us a mature Church for His pleasure, until we become a source of praise to Him—glorious and radiant, beautiful and holy, without fault or flaw.  Jesus is the Light that shines upon the Church, and the light of the Church shining upon the nations.  That’s what Jesus told us, “Your lives light up the world. For how can you hide a city that stands on a hilltop? And who would light a lamp and then hide it in an obscure place? Instead, it’s placed where everyone in the house can benefit from its light.”  This is God’s Light that has risen like a sunrise upon us - the Church - like a glorious New Day.  Now the Church has to shine God’s Light in us upon the nations.  May we do our part.  Amen!

God’s Purpose is to Build His Church

 “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?”

1 Corinthians 14:4-6 KJV

‭‭Paul’s revelation, “The one who speaks in tongues advances his own spiritual progress, while the one who prophesies builds up the Church. I would be delighted if you all spoke in tongues, but I desire even more that you impart prophetic revelation to others. Greater gain comes through the one who prophesies than the one who speaks in tongues, unless there is interpretation so that it builds up the entire Church. Dear friends, what good is it if I come to you always speaking in tongues? But if I come with a clear revelation from God, or with insight, or with a prophecy, or with a clear teaching, I can enrich you.” The One Who speaks through us when speaking in tongues, is the Holy Spirit Who empowers us in our human frailty and weakness. Many times we don’t know how to pray, or know the best things to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises up within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words.  The purpose of God through each individual is to build the Church.    That’s why each believer must have the personal and intimate experience with our Lord to know how He is leading us.  If we have the know-it-all attitude of condescension, we will be unfruitful.  Every congregation needs to focus on: the revelation of God; the insights of truth; the prophecy; the teaching and building up.  All these are necessary today for the Church to be built up and effective and the powerhouse that God wants it to be.  Amen!

God is For Us, None can Stand Against Us

 “So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭59‬:‭19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “From the west to the lands of the rising sun, the glory and the Name of YAHWEH will be held in highest reverence, for He will break in as a flooding, rushing river driven on by the breath of YAHWEH!”  God breaks into the human condition as a Man Who died on the Cross.  His Blood, like a flood of righteousness, washes away the sins of those who believe in Him.  When the enemy comes in, the Spirit of Yahweh, His Breath, like a flood will put him to flight. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the enemy.  Jesus told us that He has given us His authority to trample over satan’s kingdom. We will trample upon every demon before us and overcome every power satan possesses. Absolutely nothing will harm us as we walk in this authority.  It is God Who fights our battles when we put our trust in Him. When God has determined to stand with us, who then could ever stand against us?  Amen!

The Demonstration of God’s Intense Love on the Cross

 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation, “If I were to speak with eloquence in earth’s many languages, and in the heavenly tongues of angels, yet I didn’t express myself with love, my words would be reduced to the hollow sound of nothing more than a clanging cymbal.”  There are more than seven thousand languages spoken in the world and the angels in heaven have a distinct language among themselves that is not known on earth!  Should we know many earthly languages and have no love, we’re just making a noise.  This love originates in God Who is Love, and it means a burning, fiery love that sets on fire.  It comes from the inner depths of the heart of the Eternal One.  This love energy is the active power of bonding hearts and lives in secure relationships.  This agapé love is of the highest form which God has for His people.  It is an intense affection that must be demonstrated.  It is a loyal, endless and unconditional commitment of love.  Feelings are attached to this love.  It is not abstract, but devoted to demonstrating the inward feelings of love toward another with acts of kindness and benevolence.  May we understand that the love of God which He wants us to be in is not just verbal but it is action too.  This is the love Jesus showed for all humanity on the Cross - not just words but in action too.  Amen!

The Responsibility of Believers in Christ on How to Reign

 “and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day:”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭58‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “and if you offer yourselves in compassion for the hungry and relieve those in misery, then your dawning light will rise in the darkness and your gloom will turn into noonday splendor!”  Jesus offered Himself to us, so we should offer ourselves in compassion for others.  In the last days, God wants us to banish every form of oppression in our lives, churches and society.  God wants us to remove scornful accusation and criticism of others and their ministries, and forbids us to spread malicious slander.  God desires us to have compassion for the poor and disenfranchised and comfort those enduring suffering and tragedy.  Then God promises multiple blessings that will come - our influence and spiritual light will increase in our communities; discouragement and gloom will disappear from our lives; God will give us specific guidance and counsel to know what to do and where to go; He will fill us with renewing grace even when we are surrounded by difficult situations; our spiritual lives will flourish like a lush garden with fruit and beauty; we will not cease to be an ever-flowing source of blessing to others; we will be given God’s grace to rebuild lives and institutions in our cities, churches and nations; we will take up the legacy of our spiritual fathers and build on their foundations; we will have a testimony of healing cities; we will restore well-being in our communities.  May we flow in God’s glory to reign on earth.  Amen!

Christ’s Body on Earth

 “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation was, “Just as the human body is one, though it has many parts that together form one body, so too is Christ. For by one Spirit we all were immersed and mingled into one single body. And no matter our status—whether we are Jews or non-Jews, oppressed or free—we are all privileged to drink deeply of the same Holy Spirit.”  Christ is now a Body with many parts.  The Human Body of Jesus is glorified and enthroned in heaven.  So also the Body of Christ.  We are co-enthroned with Him but we continue to exist on earth to represent Him to the world.  We were baptised into the Body of Christ when we came into a personal relationship with Christ.  He gave us a new birth; He came to dwell in us; He places us as a member of Christ’s Body on the earth; He seals us as the possession of Christ until the redemption of our human body.  We drink deeply of the Holy Spirit and it is the same as receiving His power and gifts until rivers of Living Waters flow from the inside of us.  Amen!

Believers in Christ Inherit & Possess Mount Zion

 “When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain; and shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people. For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭57‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “Let’s see if your pantheon of idols can save you when you cry out! They will be blown away by the wind; merely a breath will carry them off! But whoever makes Me a hiding place will possess the land and inherit My holy mountain.” YAHWEH says, “Let the people return to Me.  Build! Build up the road, clear the way, and get it ready! Remove every obstacle from their path.” For this is what the high and majestic One says, the One Who fills the eternal realm with glory, Whose Name is Holy: “I dwell in high and holy places but also with the bruised and lowly in spirit, those who are humble and quick to repent. I dwell with them to revive the spirit of the humble, to revive the heart of those who are broken over their sin.”  This holy mountain is Mount Zion which the believer inherits today in the Kingdom of God.  This glory is the Shekinah which God fills eternity with.  This blessing comes to those who are humble and in whom  gentleness dwells and who inherit the earth and whose crooked path is made straight!  We have this Shekinah because we have believed in Jesus Who established a new covenant with His Blood sprinkled upon the mercy seat.  Amen!

Our Reverence for Christ’s Sacrifice

 “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭29‬-‭31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation was, “For continually eating and drinking with a wrong spirit will bring judgment upon yourself by not recognizing the body. This insensitivity is why many of you are weak, chronically ill, and some even dying. If we have examined ourselves, we should not be judged.” To partake of the Lord’s Body and Blood casually, irreverently or as a mindless routine, is to bring damnation upon ourselves.  To properly discern the Lord’s Body which was beaten and bruised for our healing, would mean to not be weak, sick or die prematurely.  We cannot be indifferent or underestimate what happened on the Cross, as we examine ourselves.  We cannot forget that we have been crucified with Christ.  We are freed from God’s judgement because as Paul explains, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.”  Hallelujah!

Christ Our Sabbath Rest

 “Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭56‬:‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “Blessed is the one who will faithfully keep his commitment. Yes, blessed is the one who honors the Sabbath and does not disregard it, and the one who keeps their hands from doing evil.”  For believers today, our Sabbath is now a Man, the Lord Jesus Christ.  We have entered into the seventh day from Adam.  As Peter explained, “So, dear friends, don’t let this one thing escape your notice: a single day counts like a thousand years to the Lord YAHWEH, and a thousand years counts as one day.”  Now we enter into the rest of the finished work of the Cross.  We cease from our own labours and enter into His Sabbath rest.  “For it says in the Scriptures, And on the seventh day God rested from all His works. For God still has ordained a day for us to enter into called “Today.” For it was long afterwards that God repeated it in David’s words, “If only today you would listen to His voice and do not harden your hearts!” So we conclude that there is still a full and complete Sabbath-rest waiting for believers to experience. As we enter into God’s faith-rest life we cease from our own works, just as God celebrates His finished works and rests in them.”  Amen!

God’s Faithfulness through the Cross of Christ

 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation was, “We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously.”  God’s faithfulness and grace will limit the severity of every test and prevent you from being tested beyond your ability to cope.  Unlimited grace is available for every believer who faces hardship, temptations and seasons of difficulty.  Trusting in God’s faithfulness is the way of escape that empowers us to overcome every difficulty we may experience.  We are not told that every difficulty will be removed from our lives, but that God’s grace provides an exit path.  God bears up under us to take us out of danger - that’s the way of escape so that we are empowered to endure it.  That is to say that God’s faithfulness gives us both the way of escape and the power to endure.  This has been made possible for us only because Jesus delivered us through the Cross.  What a faithful God we have.  Amen!